Wallabies stun Springboks at Ellis Park from 22-0 down in Rugby Championship

By Canadian Press on August 16, 2025.

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Australia toppled South Africa at Ellis Park for the first time in 62 years with a sensational 38-22 comeback win from 22-0 down in the Rugby Championship opener on Saturday.

The Wallabies scored a remarkable six straight tries against the double world champion and Rugby Championship titleholder to earn one of their greatest wins in the professional era.

Australia came to the highveld battle-hardened from the narrow home series loss to the British and Irish Lions, but its record in South Africa made it an obvious underdog. It hadn’t won in South Africa since 2011 or at Ellis Park since 1963.

The Springboks underlined their credentials by sprinting to 22-0 in 17 minutes with three well-made tries.

But they never scored again.

Australia didn’t panic, absorbed the blows, tightened its defense and watched a Springboks side packed with 18 World Cup winners surprisingly wobble as the pressure was returned.

The Wallabies, down 22-5 at halftime, didn’t go ahead until the 64th minute through captain Harry Wilson’s second try and last act of the match. They added two more tries to finish the stronger team at an altitude in which they have traditionally struggled for decades. This was only their second ever win over the Boks at their spiritual home in 92 years.

“At 22-0 down, there was real courage again from the players,” Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt told broadcaster SuperSport. “We were forced to take a few risks and there were a few lucky bounces for us, so we are not going to get too carried away.

“At the same time I am incredibly proud of the group. I am realistic about getting a little bit of luck, but delighted we came back. Nineteen-sixty-three was a long time ago so the players are delighted.”

Second half comeback

Wilson opened the second half scoring a soft try from replacement prop Angus Bell’s pass into a gap 25 meters out.

Len Ikitau limped off and Australia patched the midfield with Andrew Kellaway, and put flyhalf backup Tane Edmed on the wing for the injured Dylan Pietsch.

Australia blew two consecutive attacking lineouts to narrow the 22-12 gap, and managed it only when rugby league convert Joseph-Aukuso Sua’ali’i intercepted flyhalf Manie Libbok from 55 meters out for his first test try.

They finally hit the front when fullback Tom Wright stepped Canan Moodie and set up Wilson, who appeared to be cramping as he crossed the try-line for a second time. Wilson left.

Two minutes later, a giant double miss-out pass by James O’Connor released right wing Max Jorgensen to score another long-range try. The fourth goalkick by O’Connor, the fourth-choice flyhalf playing his first test in three years at age 35, sent Australia 33-22 ahead with 14 minutes left.

South Africa and its renowned ‘bomb squad’ of replacements couldn’t break an inspired Wallabies side.

The coup was completed with five to go. Just outside the Australia 22, Jesse Kriel’s overhead inside pass to Andre Esterhuizen was knocked on straight to Wright, who cantered to the other end.

South Africa start fast

The Springboks feasted on Italy and Georgia last month but coach Rassie Erasmus gathered them for the Australia game a week earlier than scheduled, a compliment to the Wallabies’ resurgent effort against the Lions.

The decision paid off early.

Wing Kurt-Lee Arendse jogged in for the opening try inside two minutes. Libbok converted, added a penalty, then hit the post when he tried to convert a long-range try finished by center Esterhuizen.

Five minutes later, captain Siya Kolisi was over. At 22-0 after 17 minutes, the lack of tension prompted the crowd of 51,300 to start a Mexican wave.

Ruck penalties against South Africa gave Australia momentum, and Ikitau looped around O’Connor to free left wing Pietsch for Australia’s first points after a half-hour.

But Pietsch walked off soon after, clutching his jaw after tackling Kolisi’s shoulder.

South Africa was held scoreless in the second quarter but, with two more quarters to go, nobody expected that to last.

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AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby

The Associated Press